It's a position battle that doesn't figure to excite many fans, but upgrading at punter is critically important to the Detroit Lions.

You have to go back to 2006 to find the last time the Lions were ranked in the top half of the NFL in net punting average. Over the past four seasons, the team has finished no higher than 24th. The Lions were dead last in 2012 with a 37.1-yard average.

The Lions opened last season with Ben Graham handling the punting duties, but the former Australian Football League player suffered a significant calf injury in Week 3. Pressed to find a replacement, the Lions turned a familiar face, signing Nick Harris a year after releasing the veteran.

Detroit opted not to re-sign Harris this offseason, instead bringing in a pair of young players to compete for the job. In March, the team signed free agent Blake Clingan, who last kicked for the University of Central Florida in 2010.

In April, the Lions signaled a more serious commitment to improving at the position, drafting Appalachian State punter Sam Martin in the fifth round. He was the second punter selected, 10 picks after the Minnesota Vikings chose UCLA's Jeff Locke.

Martin is the first punter Detroit has drafted since 1984.

In early offseason practices, it's clear Martin and Clingan offer more leg strength than the team has had in years. Both are capable of regularly blasting the ball more than 50 yards, frequently getting five or more seconds of hang time.

Consistency has been an issue in these early practices, but Martin appeared to be making significant strides in that area during the team's three-day minicamp in June.

A former soccer player, Martin didn't start playing football until his junior year of high school. His numbers were pedestrian his first three years at Appalachian State, but after training with kicking guru Dan Orner prior to the 2012 season, Martin added six yards to his punting average, earning FCS All-American honors as a senior.

Given his draft status, Martin is the clear favorite to win the job, but Clingan will be given an opportunity to impress as well. Regardless of who emerges victorious, the Lions should be vastly improved at the position in 2013.